Cellular carton



June 12, 1956 R. P. BEMISS 2,750,099

CELLULAR CARTON Filed April 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet. 1

INVEN TOR. Robe/'7 R Bemiss BY M '5. M

" ATTORNEY June 12, 1956 R. P. B -EMISS CELLULAR CARTON Filed April 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Shee 3 IN VEN TOR Roberf Bem/ss ga a. 4:. R A,

M ATTORNEY June 12, 1956 R. P. BEMISS CELLULAR CARTON 4 t w e e n s w 2 3 1 5 9 l 2 2 3 5 l l r p A d e l 1 F Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

5 mw m E VB P 1T r 8 w R ATTORNB Y United States Patent CELLULAR CARTON Robert P. Bemiss, Burlingame, Califi, assignor of onefourth each to Albert M. Austin, Wilton, and Walton D. Lynch, New Haven, Conn., and William E. Jason Application April 5, 1951, Serial No. 219,424 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) 2,750,099 Patented June 12, 1956 placed on the carton cover. More particularly, the cover should be rigidly supported to keep the cover properly spaced from the eggs in the carton.

In order to reduce the effects of breakage, if breakage occurs, it is desirable to construct the egg cartons with a solid or imperforate bottom to retain the contents of the broken egg in the carton or to cause it to flow to the wall of the shipping case in which event the damage to other cartons in the case is greatly minimizedv A solid bottom construction is of great convenience to the consumer in that the carton can be placed into, and removed from, a refrigerator more readily than the conventional forms of cartons having ribbed or otherwise contoured bottom panels which tend to catch on the shelves of the refrigerator.

It is most desirable to construct the cellular portion of an egg carton in such a way that eggs of various sizes against contact with one another and protected against damage from the outside.

This invention provides an imprvoed cellular carton construction whose basic structure and merits are con veniently explained by considering a specific application of the improved construction to the packaging of eggs. Once the advantages of the construction are seen in connection with the packaging of eggs, corresponding advantages of the construction in other uses are readily appreciated. For example, same basic construction may be applied to the packaging of fruit, of light bulbs, of bottles, or of other items requiring cushioned packaging in multiple.

The specifications which an egg carton must meet in order to be acceptable to the trade are numerous and go considerably beyond the commonly recognized function of providing protection for the eggs during the trip from the grocery store to the consumers refrigerator. It will therefore be helpful briefly to consider some of the major points which determine the commerecial merits of an egg carton construction.

The principal function of the egg carton, namely the protection of the packaged eggs against breakage, must be considered from various angles, and in this connection generally established trade practices must be taken into consideration. 7

Most egg cartons start their trip at the poultry producers plant, Where cleaned and graded eggs are placed in the cartons for shipment to distributing points. It is customary in this connection to ship eggs in units of twelve dozens, such units comprising a case in which twelve egg boxes are packaged in four levels, each level comprising three egg cartons. It is evident that in such an arrangement-the bottommost three egg boxes bear the weight of the nine boxes resting on top. Jarring and vibrations during transport cause the cartons to settle in the case to a considerable extent. It frequently happens that the cartons in a case settle more than an inch during their first trip to the point of distribution, for example, the wholesaler. This means that the air space originally provided above and below the eggs for protection has been reduced by that amount, so that frequently the weight of the upper three levels of cartons rests on the eggs proper in the cartons in the bottom level, rather than on the walls of the cartons. As a result, breakage is frequently experienced which severally involves an economic loss in excess of the value of the broken eggs since breakage of an egg frequently causes further cartons to be soiled requiring repackaging of the eggs in all the soiled cartons. It is therefore most essential that egg cartons possess great resistanceto crushing by a load can be packaged in the same size cartons without causing smaller size eggs to rattle in the carton-or tilt substantially out of their vertical position in which they were originally put in the carton. A cellular construction which is adaptable to a variety of sizes results in greater economy, since only a few basic carton sizes are required for the entire line of egg sizes and cartons of intermediate size are eliminated.

. While cushioning support of the eggs in a vertical direction is most important, strength of the carton in a horizontal direction as well as cushioning support and cushioning separation of the individual eggs in a horizontal direction is also essential. Breakage of eggs is frequently caused because of the lack of cushioning separation of eggs in neighboring cells. It is therefore desirable to provide a separating cushion between the rows of eggs to either side of the center partition of the carton as well as between the eggs in each row.

Furthermore, the carton construction should be such that the carton structure itself is resistant to forces tending to crush the carton in a horizontal direction. In this connection it is preferred to taper the side walls of the egg carton so that the cover portion, or the portion containing the cell dividing webs constitutes the widest portion of the carton so that the eggs rest against the side wall at a point of reduced width of the carton. r

A tapered carton construction, in connection with an appropriate shaping of the webs permits nesting of set-up cartons at the loading station, whereby the total space required for empty cartons is reduced.

It is common practice of grocery clerks to place egg cartons upended in shopping bags. This practice frequently leads to breakage of the eggs in the endmost, or bottommost compartments of the upended carton, particularly since most conventional egg boxes are of insufficient strength at this point and provide little or no cushioning support. It is for this reason desirable to construct an egg box in such a way as to provide for added strength and cushioning support at the endmost cells.

From a manufacturing point of view, it is desirable to construct egg cartons in such a way that the folding and gluing operations to be performed on the carton blank are simple, preferably so simple that the gluing is completed after a single pass of the blank through a conventional straight line gluing machine.

The various features, objects, and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which follows accompanied by drawings showing, for the purpose of illustration, a preferred form of egg carton embodying the invention. The invention also consistsof certain new original features of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although thecharacteristic features of the invention in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood by referring to the description which follows taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of it in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a fiat blank from which an egg carton embodying the present invention may be made;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank shown in Figure 1 after an initial folding and gluing operation;

Figure 3 is an end view of the folded and glued blank shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end view of the squared blank of Figures 2 and 3 in the process of forming into cellular carton shape;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of ton; V Figure 6 is an end view of the carton of Figure 5 with the cover in closed and locked position;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the bottom of the carton of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is the plan view of the completed carthe cellular body portion of the carton, a section view being taken on plane 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a detail, partly in section, showing the locking of the cover, a section being taken on line 99 of Figure 6; and

Figure 10 is a detail, partly in section, through the web construction of the cellular carton body, the section being taken on line 1010 of Figure 8. V

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for the sake of convenience. The names, however, are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will'permit. Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The blank A shown in Figure l is rectangular in outline and may be cut and scored, in multiple, from large rolls or sheets of foldable sheet material, for example paperboard, on automatic cutting and scoring machines witha minimum of waste of stock due to the absence of portions protruded beyond the substantially rectangular outline of the blank. The blank is shown with its unfinished back side facing the observer.

These several constituent parts or portions of the blank are set apart by fold or crease lines. Theblank comprises a top web panel 11, an outer side wall panel 12, a bottom panel 13, inner side wall panels 14 and 15, a further bottom panel 16, a further outer side wall panel 17, a cover panel 18, and a tuck flap 19. These panels are articulated to one another along fold lines 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27.

For reasons of more convenient identification the fold lines 21 and 25 will also be called bottom fold lines, the fold line 23 will be termed partition ridge 'fold line, the fold line 26'may be referred to as the hinge cover fold line and the fold line 27 will sometimes be named tuck flap fold line.

, A glue lap 28 is articulated to the top web panel 11 along an inner top fold line 29, the other bordering fold line2 0 of the top web panel 11 being termed outer top fold line.

The top panel 11 is traversed by a plurality of cut lines and score lines to provide a cellular structure. Cut lines 30 extend between the fold lines 20 and -29and alternate with score lines 31 which hereinafter will also be referred to as web ridge fold lines. The web ridge fold lines are shorter than the cut lines 30 and end at the apex of scored triangular panels 32 whose bases coincide with the top fold lines 20 and 259 respectively. The bordering lines 20 and 29 of the top'web panel 11 are cut in line with, but not including, the bases of the triangular panels 32. Thus, cut lines 33 extend substantially. normal to the cut lines 30 and in line: with the score line 29 which constitutes 'the'inner' top'fold line.

Similar cut lines 34 extend along the outer top fold line 20. However, the shape of the cut lines 34 is preferably modified to form scalloped projections 35 on the side wall panel 12 which, as will later be seen, serves to guide the cover top flap 19 into locking position. The scalloped projections 35 are cut from the stock of the top web panel 11 thus leaving arcuate recesses 36 in the side edges of the web panels 37 and 38 formed by the aforementioned cut line. These arcuate recesses, as will later be seen, provide locking edges for the cover tuck flap.

Apertures 39 are cut into the body of the web panels 37 and 38. The apertures 39 are preferably of trapezoidal shape. The base 40 of the trapezoid is preferably parallel to the out line 30 and the sides 41 and 42 are preferably inclined with respect to the base 40 by angles substantially equal to the angle which the center partition panels 14 and 15 include between them in the finished carton.

Substantially diamond-shaped apertures 43 are cut in the inner wall panels 14 and 15. One diagonal 44 of the diamond is substantially in line with the web ridge fold lines 31 and the other diagonal 45 is substantially in line with the partition ridge fold line 23. It will be observed that the length of the diagonal 44 is less than the distance between the fold lines 22 and 24.

Substantially U-shaped cut lines 46 cut stock from the body of the inner wall panels 14 and 15 at the ends of the diagonal 44 and form tongues 47 on the bottom panels 13 and '16. These tongues 47 point towards the ends of the diagonal 44 and serve a double purpose, as will later be seen. Firstly, the tongues engage the web panels 37 and 38 in the finished carton and maintain these panels in spread and locked position. Secondly, the stock removed by the tongues from the inner side wall panels 14 and '15 leave lock tabs 48 on the inner side wall panels 14 and 15 for engagement with the apertures 39 in the finished carton.

Finger grip recesses 49 may be cut into the side edges of the cover panel 18 in a conventional manner for convenient removal of cartons from a shipping case. A The tuck flap 19 has a plurality of guiding and locking tongues 50 on it, provided with lateral lock tabs 51 for engagement with the arcuate recesses 36 in the web panels 37 and 38 in the completed box. The tuck flap 19 has an'outer edge 52 beyond which the tongues 50 project, the outer edge 52 serving as an engagement edge with which the tuck flap rests on the triangular panels 32 of the web' structure, as will later be seen.

The assembly of an egg carton from the blank A may proceed as follows:

As a first opeartion, adhesive a is applied to the glue lap 28 and the blank is then folded at the fold line 22 to bring the glue lap 28 into adhesive engagement with the outer side wall panel 17. This folding operation causes the tongues 47 to project beyond the fold line 22 as integral portions of the bottom panel 13 from which the tongues 47 extend. The folding and gluing operation may be performed by a conventional straight-line gluing machine and is the only gluing operation required in the manufacture of this egg carton.

The folded blank A is shown in Figures 2 and 3. It constitutes a fiat collapsed tubular structure which is ready for setting up into hollow carton form. Tubular blanks A may be stored and shipped to the user in flat condition. They require a minimum of space and may be set up into hollow carton form by performance of a few folding and assembly operations which may be carried out at the egg producers plant. These assembly operations will now be described:

The blank -A' is first expanded into hollow tubular form as shown in Figure 4. Thereafter, or substantially simultaneously, the web panels 37 and 38 are folded backto-back at their respective web ridge fold lines 31 into the shape'of an inverted V (Figure 5).

The inner side wall panels 14 and 15 are creased along itheir line of articulation 23, and are brought up between the folded webs 37, 33 until the lock tabs 48 engage and lock with the apertures 39 in the webs. Thus the inner side wall panels become a two-ply'center partition.

The originally diamond-shaped apertures 43 become wedge shaped recesses in the center partition 14, 15 through which recesses the double thickness webs 38 extend, as is shown particularly in Figure '5.

Referring to Figure it is seen that the edges 53 of the center partition 14, immediately below the lock tabs 48 abut the outer surfaces of the transverse webs 37, 38. It is also seen that the locking tongues 47, whose removal caused the side edges 43 to be formed in the center partition 14 and 15, engage the web panels 37 and 38 from underneath tending to spread them apart, thus preventing accidental engagement of the web panels 37-.and38 from 'the center partition 14, 15.

Referring 'to Figures 5 and 6, it is seen that, in effect, the center partitions '14, '15 are suspended from the transverse Webs 37 and 38 in a position in which the bottom panels '13 and 16 also assume inverted V-shap'e, although of a relatively flat slope, as compared with the center par- :tition 14, 15 having a steep slope.

The inverted V-shape of the transverse webs 37, 38, of'the center-partitions 14, 15 and of the bottom 13, 16, results ina structure ofrgreat rigidity and great crush resistance. The center partition panels 14 and 15 offer considerable resistance forces exerted -on the partition from above as it is the case when filled egg cartons are stacked in a shipping case or for display purposes. In shipping cases each level of cartons is placed at right angles with respect to the cartons in the level above or below. Thus the weight of stacked cartons is carried by the center partitions and by the outer side walls of the cartons underneath. The center partition transfers the load to the transverse ,par-tition panels '37., 38 which also are very rigid due to their inverted V-shape. The transverse webs 37 .and 38 then transfer the load to the outer side walls which, as shown in Figure 6, are tapered inwardly and downwardly and are braced for additional rigidity by the end edges'of the transverse webs at 54 and 55 (Figure -6).

In spite of the great rigidity and strength of the carton, the individual cells of the carton are sufficiently expansible to accommodate eggs or other items of various sizes. The .center partition ,panels '14 and 15 as well as the transverse Webpanls 37-and 38 may be deflected atthe point of-engagement with the eggs or other packaged items -to grasp the items snugly but gently and to prevent them from rattling in the cells. Deflection of the panels at the point of contact does not impair the strength and compressure resistance of the carton, even in cases where such deflection is considerable. It is thus possible to package jumlho s'ized eggs in a carton ordinarily used for the com- .mercial large size, whereas a special size of carton is required for the commercial jumbo size in the event a carton o'f-non-expansible cell construction is used.

Cartons resting side by side on a surface or in a case engage one another along a horizontal plane either at, or .above, the plane of the panel 11 (Figure 6). This ;plane is safely above the point at which the eggs rest against the outer sidewalls 12 and 17.

Expanded empty cartons may conveniently be stacked one on top'of another at the loading station in the poultry .pr'oducers plant. In nested position the protruding portions '56 of the centerpartition (Figure 5) fit into corresponding cavities 57 (Figure 7) in the bottom of the carton on top. Nesting of cartons reduces the space re- "quirenrent for set-up cartons.

The loading of the cartons is done in a conventional manner by inserting the eggs into the cells, point down, and the cartons are then closed by downfolding of the cover panel 18. The locking tongues 50 of the tuck flap '19 are automatically guided by the eggs on one side and ilock tabs 51 move into and engage the edges of the apertures 36 (Figures 6 and 9). In closed position the edges 52 of the lock flap (Figure 5) rest on the triangular panels 32. A load or force exerted on the carton cover 1 8 is transferred to the side walls 12 through the tuck flap 19, at 35, '32 and is transferred to the side Wall panel 17 at the fold line 26. Intermediate the side Walls, the cover panel 13 rests on the sturdy center partition 15}, 15 of invertecl V-shape which, as previously set forth, transfers the load to, and through, the transverse web panels 37,

If a filled egg carton is stood up on end, as 'is common practice in packaging groceries, the eggs in the endmost, or bottomrnost cells are resiliently supported by the endmost webs 37 or 38 which lie safely inside the end edges 57 of the carton. The endmost webs are of single thickness, but of great rigidity due to the fact that the webs are substantially L-shaped in cross section as isapparent from Figure 5. The normally horizontal portion 58 of the L prevents bellying out of the web flange 37 or 38 so that the bottommost eggs have sufficient cushioning support to prevent breakage. The construction of the endmost webs is in marked contrast to conventional egg cartons in which the correspondingcarton portion is quite weak, is easily deformed and is readily torn.

The egg carton has a solid bottom free from projections which permits it to be slid on refrigerator shelves. The solid bottom construction further prevents the contents of a broken egg from spilling through the bottom onto the printed cover panel of the carton underneath. Thus, damagefrom spillingis greatlyariinimized.

The extremely rigid and truss-like construction of the cartonpermits use of board of-considerably lower caliper than iscommonly used in themanuafcture of egg boxes. It :has been-found, for example, that a box constructed 'of l7-point board embodying thestructural features of this invention is considerably superior in strength'and aprotecting'qnalities to .a conventional box made of 26-point board. Thus the novel construction results in .a considerable saving of board on a weight basis.

:It will-be noted that only onesurface of the board need be finished or decoratively imprinted since only one surface appears as the outside surface of the box at the COV1 Sld Walls and bottom walls. Due to the peculiar construction, the visible portions of the transverse webs display the finished or imprinted surface of the board. This feature offers a sales advantage in that the color of the eggs can beemphasized by selection of 'an appropriate *color for the printed side of the carton. For example white eggs appear whiter if the surface :of the carton is finished predominantly in blue.

7 The invention thus provides a sturdy and efficient cellular carton which beyond the illustrated use as an egg :carton lends itself admirably to the protective packaging of other fragile items. The carton is attractive and requires a minimum of board. Its folding and setting up operation are relatively simple, its strength is great and many features and advantages are inherent in its construction.

What is claimed is: I

l. A cellular carton for a plurality of articles, particularly eggs, arranged in two rows, the carton consisting of foldable sheet :material creased along fold lines setting :apart the several constituent parts of the carton, the carton comprising, a pair of outer side wall panels; a pair of center panels lying back-to-back and forming a two-ply :partition between the side wall panels; a pair of bottom panels articulated to said side wall panels and integral with said center panels along crease lines; and a cellular top structure dividing the space to either side of the center panels into individual article receiving cells, said top struc- "ture comprising webs articulated to said side wall panels and extending at substantially right angles to the side wall panels from one side wall panel to the other and transverse to, and across, said center panels, the endmost webs being of single ply thickness, the intermediate webs being of double ply thickness and forming an inverted V in cross section, said webs having internal apertures therein substantially in line with said two-ply partition, said two-ply partition having notches extending into it from its top edge through which notches the said intermediate wcbs extend, said notches terminating in protrusions extending into, and engaging, said apertures in the webs; and tabs on, and integral with, said bottom panels, said webs lying substantially in the same plane as the bottom panels and extending beyond the crease line between the bottom panels and the center panels, said tabs having side edges engaging in the set-up carton the surface of said intermediate webs in a sense to spread the intermediate webs apart.

2. A cellular carton for a plurality of articles, particularly eggs, arranged in two rows, the carton consisting of foldable sheet material creased along fold lines setting apart the several constituent parts of the carton, the carton comprising, a pair of outer side wall panels; a pair of center panels articulated along a partition ridge fold line and forming a two-ply partition between the side wall panels; a pair of bottom panels articulated to said side wall panels and integral with said center panels, said bottom panels being upwardly inclined towards said center panels to present an inverted-V bottom structure; and a cellular top structure dividing the space to either side of the center panels into individual article receiving cells, said top structure comprising webs articulated to said side wall panels and extending at substantially right angles to the side wall panels from one side wall panel to the other and transverse to, and across, said center panels, the endmost webs being of single ply thickness, the intermediate webs being of double ply thickness, said webs having internal apertures therein substantially in line with said said two-ply partition, said two-ply partition having notches extending into it from the partition ridge fold line through which notches said intermediate webs extend in folded position, said notches terminating in lock tabs engaging said apertures and locking said webs in a position in which the webs lie below said partition ridge fold lines; and tabs on the bottom panels in line with said notches, said tabs extending beyond the line of articulation between said bottom panels and said center panels and engaging said webs from underneath to spread the webs apart.

3. A cellular carton for a plurality of articles, particularly eggs, arranged in two rows, the carton consisting of foldable sheet material creased along fold lines setting apart the several constituent parts of the carton, the carton comprising, a pair of outer side wall panels; a pair of center panels articulated along a partition ridge fold line and forming a two-ply partition between the side wall panels, said center panels being inclined with respect to each other to present an inverted-V center partition; a pair of bottom panels articulated to said side wall panels and integral with said center panels; and a cellular top structure dividing the space to either side of the center panels into individual article receiving cells, said top structure comprising webs articulated to said side wall panels .and extending at substantially right angles to the side wall panels from one side wall panel to the other and transverse to, and across, said center panels, the endmost webs being of single ply thickness, the intermediate webs being of double ply thickness, the two thicknesses being articulated together along web ridge fold lines shorter than the distance from one side wall panel to the other, said webs having internal apertures therein substantially in line with said center partition, said webs further including triangular panels at each end of said ridge fold line, said triangular panels being articulated to said side wall panels at their bases along base fold lines extending substantially parallel to said bottom panels, said base fold lines being substantially normal, and spaced from, said web ridge fold lines, the apex of the triangle being the end of the web ridge fold line, the two sides of the triangle meeting at the apex being lines of articulation between the two piles of the webs and the triangular panels, said two ply partition having substantially V-shaped notches extending into it from the partition ridge fold line through which notches said intermediate webs extend with their plies folded into inverted V-form, the apex of the V notches lying, in the set-up carton within the said internal apertures in the webs, said two-ply partitions having substantially horizontal cut edges extending from said apexes, said out edges engaging the lower edge of said internal apertures.

4. An egg carton of foldable sheet material comprising,

a pair of outer side wall panels, one side Wall panel'being taller than the other side wall panel; a pair of center panels folded back-to-back along a partition ridge fold line, thereby forming a two-ply partition between the side wall panels; a pair of bottom panels articulated to said side wall panels and integral with said center panels; a cellular top structure dividing the space to either side of the center panels into individual article receiving cells, said top structure comprising webs articulated to said side wall panels and extending at substantially right angles to the side wall panels from one side wall panel to the other and transverse to, and across, said center panels, the endmost webs being of single ply thickness, the intermediate webs being of double ply thickness, the two thicknesses being articulated together along web ridge fold lines shorter than the distance from one side wall panel to the other, said webs having apertures therein substantially in line with said center partition, said webs further including triangular panels at each end of said ridge fold line, said triangular panels being articulated to said side wall panels at their bases along base fold lines extending substantially parallel to said bottom panels, said base fold lines being substantially normal, and spaced from, said web ridge fold lines, the apex of the triangle being the end of the web ridge fold line, the two sides of the triangle meeting at the apex being lines of articulation between the two plies of the webs and the triangular panels, said two ply partition having notches extending into it from the partition ridge fold line through which notches said intermediate webs extend with their plies folded into inverted V-form, said partition panels having protrusions extending into said notches for engaging the apertures in said webs, the lower side wall panel having tabs projecting above its upper edge and above said triangular panels, said tabs being cut from the stock of said webs leaving a recess in the edge of the webs abutting said lower side wall panel; a cover panel articulated to said taller side wall panel; and a tuck flap articulated to said cover panel, said tuck flap having recessed edge portions in line with said webs to rest on said triangular panels when the cover is closed, said tuck flap further having locking tongues insertable inside said lower wall panel, the said locking tongues having oppositely directed lock tabs for engaging said recesses in the edges of the webs.

5. An egg carton of foldable sheet material comprising, a pair of outer side wall panels, one side wall panel being taller than the other side wall panel; a pair of center panels articulated along a partition ridge fold line and forming a two-ply partition between the side wall panels, said center panels being inclined with respect to each other to present an inverted-V center partition; a pair of bot- "tom panels articulated to said side wall panels and integral with said center panels, said bottom panels being upwardly inclined towards said center panels to present an inverted-V bottom structure; a cellular top structure dividing the space to either side of the center panels into individual article receiving cells, said top structure comprising webs articulated to said side wall panels and extending at substantially right angles to the side wall panels from one side wall panel to the other and transverse to,

and across, :said center panels, the

I endmost webs being of single ply thickness, the intermediate webs '-being of double ply thickness, the two thicknesses being articulated together along web ridge fold lines shorter than the distance from one side wall panel to the other, said webs having apertures therein substantially in line with said center partition, said webs further including triangular panels at each end of said ridge fold line, said triangular panels being articulated to said side wall panels at their bases along base foldlines extending substantially parallel to said bottom panels, said base fold lines being substantiallynormal, and spaced from, said web ridge fold lines, theap'ex of the triangle being the end of the web ridge fold line, 'the twosides-of thetriangle-meeting at the apex being lines of articulation bet-ween the two plies of the webs and the triangular panel,-said two ply partition having notches extending into -it from the partition ridge fold line through which notches said intermediate web's extend with their plies folded into inverted V-form, said partition panels having protrusions extending into said notches and engaging the apertures in said webs; tabs on the bottom panels in line with said notches, said tabs engaging said webs from underneath tending to spread the webs apart, the lower side wall panel having tabs projecting above its upper edge and above said triangular panels, said tabs being cut from the stock of said webs leaving a recess in the edge of the webs abutting said lower side wall panel; a cover panel articulated to said taller side Wall panel; and a tuck flap articulated to said cover panel, said tuck flap having recessed edge portions in line with said webs to rest on said triangular panels when the cover is closed, said tuck flap further having locking tongues insertable inside said lower wall panel, the said locking tongues having oppositely directed lock tabs for engaging said recesses in the edges of the webs.

6. A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a cellular carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels articulated to one another along parallel fold lines setting apart the several constituent panels of the carton, such panels including a first outer wall panel, a first bottom panel, a first inner wall panel, a second inner Wall panel, a second bottom panel, a second outer wall panel, and a top web panel, said two inner wall panels being articulated together along a top ridge fold line and having substantially diamond-shaped apertures cut therefrom, one diagonal of the diamond being in line with said ridge fold line, the other diagonal of the diamond being shorter than the distance between the fold lines bordering said inner wall panels, the panels bordering said inner wall panels comprising tongues cut from the stock of said inner wall panels, said tongues extending across said last named fold lines, the tips of said tongues extending to the ends of said other diagonals, whereby lock tabs are formed at the ends of said other diagonals, said top web panel being traversed by a plurality of alternating cut lines and fold lines normal to the lines of articulation bordering said top web panel, said fold lines being in line with the other diagonal of said diamonds, said last named fold lines being shorter than said out lines and ending at the apex of substantially triagonal panels bordered by three score lines, two score lines meeting at the apex, the third score line forming the base of the triangle along which the triangle is articulated to the adjoining outer wall panel, said lines of articulation of the top web panel being cut substantially in line with, but not including, the bases of said triangular panels, one of the cuts forming tabs from the stock of the webs, said tabs lying to both sides of said triangular panels and being integral with the adjoining outer wall panel, he webs formed by said alternating cut lines and fold lines having apertures cut therein for engagement with said lock tabs in the assembled carton.

7. A collapsible carton for a plurality of articles, particularly eggs, arranged in two rows, the carton consisting of a single sheet of foldable sheet material creased along fold lines forming lines of articulation between the sev- 1O eral constituent portions of the carton which portions said foldglines set .apart, the carton comprising a pair of outer wall panels-forming the front wall and the back wall of the ,carton, respectively; a pair of center panels articulated along ajoint centerridge fold line, said center ,panels lying back-facing back and forming a center partition; a pair of bottom panels articulated to, and extending between, said center panels and said outer wall panels, respectively,

said bottom panels forming an obtuse angle between them; a cellular top structure dividing the carton space on both sides of the center panels into individual article receiving cells, said top structure being formed of a single top panel and comprising, webs cut from said top panel, said webs having substantially horizontalbottom edges spaced from said bottom panels,*said webs extending at substantially right angles to the outer wall panels from one =outer wall panel to the other and transverse to, and across, said center partition, said .top panel further including substantially triangular hinge panels articulating said webs to said front and back wall panels, respectively, said top panel, considering the webs in non-folded position lying below said center ridge fold line, said webs having internal apertures in them substantially in line with said center partition, said center partition having substantially V-shaped notches extending into it from said center ridge fold line through which notches said webs extend, the apex of the V-notches lying, in the set-up carton, within the said internal apertures in the webs, said two-ply partition having substantially horizontal cut edges extending from said apexes, said cut edges engaging the lower edge of said internal apertures for transmitting to said webs substantially vertical forces acting on the center partition at the ridge fold line; a glue lap articulated to said top panel along a lap fold line, said glue lap being secured to said back wall panel; a cover panel articulated to said back wall panel; and a closure flap articulated to said cover panel, said closure flap having cut edges resting on said hinge panels in the position in which the cover is substantially in contact with the center partition at said center ridge fold line, the combined length of the top panel plus the front wall panel plus one bottom panel being equal to the length of the two center panels plus the other bottom panel plus the distance of the lap fold line from the carton supporting edge of the back wall panel.

8. A collapsible carton for a plurality of articles, particularly eggs, arranged in two rows, the carton consisting of a single sheet of foldable sheet material creased along fold lines forming lines of articulation between the several constituent portions of the carton which portions said fold lines set apart, the carton comprising a pair of outer Wall panels forming the front wall and the back wall of the carton, respectively, the back wall panel being taller than the front panel; a pan of center panels articulated along a joint center ridge fold line, said center panels lying back-facing-back and forming a center partition of inverted V-shape between said front and back panels, said center panels including an acute angle between them; a pair of bottom panels articulated to, and extending between, said center panels and said outer Wall panels, respectively, said bottom panels forming an obtuse angle between them; a cellular top structure dividing the carton space on both sides of the center panels into individual article receiving cells, said top structure being formed of a single top panel and comprising, webs cut from said top panel, said webs having substantially horizontal bottom edges spaced from said bottom panels, said web extending at substantially right angles to the outer wall panels from one outer wall panel to the other and transverse to, and across, said center partition, said top panel further including substantially triangular hinge panels articulating said webs to said front and back wall panels, respectively, said top panel, considering the webs in non-folded position lying below said center ridge fold line, said Webs having internal apertures in them substantially in line with said center partition, said center partition having substantially V-shaped'notches extending into it from said center ridge fold line through which notches said webs extend, the apex of the V-notches lying in the set-up carton within the said internal apertures in the webs, said two-ply partition having substantially horizontal cut edges extending from said apexes, said out edges engaging the lower edge of said internal aperture in a position in which the center ridge fold line extends above said hinge panels by a distance substantially equal to the height of said back wall panel above said hinge panels for transmitting to said webs substantially vertical forces acting on the center partition at the ridge fold line; a glue lap articulated to said top panel along a lap fold line, said glue lap being secured to said back wall panel; a cover panel articulated to said back wall panel; and a closure flap articulated to said cover panel, said closure flap having recessed edge portions in line with said webs to straddle and rest on the hinge panels adjacent the front wall panel, the combined length of the top panel plus the front Wall panel plus one bottom panel being equal to the length of the two center panels plus the other bottom panel plus the distance of the lap fold line from the carton supporting edge of the back wall panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,288,004 Hughes Dec. 17, 1918 1,374,050 Yarnall Apr. 5, 1921 1,962,296 Burger June 12, 1934 2,037,818 Payne Apr, 21, 1936 I 2,113,459 Brundin Apr. 5, 1938 2,299,966 Dearbaugh Oct. 27, 1942 2,584,595 Kowal Feb. 5, 1952 

